2012-13 boys indoor track and field performers to watch

Bullen is coming off a tremendous cross country season that was capped with a victory in the Class 3A state championship meet with a time of 16 minutes, 19.5 seconds. He has blossomed into one of the state's top distance runners.

Vince Ciattei

Perry Hall, senior

In the fall, Ciattei won the Baltimore County championship and the Class 4A North regional title in cross country before finishing third in the tough Class 4A state championship meet. Last winter, Ciattei was a member of the Gators' 3,200-meter relay team that won the Class 4A state title.

George Flaviano

Digital Harbor, senior

A big part of why the Rams won the Baltimore City meet, tied with Hereford for the Class 3A Central regional title and finished tied for fourth in the Class 3A state meet last winter, Flaviano won the 300-meter race at the state meet and ran on the victorious 1,600-meter relay.

Landrie Hatcher

Mount St. Joseph, junior

Last spring, Hatcher won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association triple jump and took second in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. He also won the high jump indoors last year and should be in four events for the Gaels this winter.

Kevin Payne

Hereford, senior

Payne is an unusual multi-event threat who's in training for the decathlon. He vaulted 14 feet last year and can score points easily in running and field events, a combination that makes him valuable to the Bulls.

Tyler Spear

Loyola, senior

Spear became the Dons' No. 1 cross country runner during the fall and led the Dons to another MIAA team title. He won the individual championship in 15 minutes, 58.4 seconds, and should be a force through the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

Timmy Usher

Reservoir, senior

After winning the Class 3A state title in the 500 meters and finishing second in the 800-meter race last winter, Usher should do well in both events again this season. He's also likely to help the Gators on relays.

Tim Virostek

Wilde Lake, senior

Virostek won the 800- and 1,600-meter events at the Class 3A state championship meet last winter, which was a big reason why the Wildecats tied Digital Harbor for fourth place in the race for the team title with 39 points.

Julian Woods

Century, senior

Woods' versatility will help the Knights this winter because he can do a little bit of everything -- helping in both running and field events. Last winter, he finished fourth in the 300-meter dash and third in the 55-meter hurdles at the Class 2A state title meet.

Sam Zunkeler

Gilman, senior

He has been one of the MIAA's most consistent distance runners over the past few years. Zunkeler will lead another deep Gilman team this winter as the Greyhounds try to repeat as MIAA champions.